LONDON — The National Audit Office (NAO) has recommended that revised plans for the HS2 high-speed rail project should not be implemented until the government can demonstrate confidence in their deliverability. The NAO stated the project needs to be put on a stable footing to prevent a recurrence of past failures.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced that the HS2 scheme is projected to cost up to £102.7 billion and that trains would not begin running between London and Birmingham until as late as 2039. The estimated cost is £70 billion more than initially promised, and the 2039 completion date is 13 years later than originally anticipated. Alexander also stated that the project would not be entirely completed until as late as 2043.

The NAO reported that the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd aim to complete the HS2 reset by spring 2027. The NAO estimated the cost of this reset process at £153 million. Mark Wild, chief executive of HS2 Ltd, developed a new detailed plan for the remaining work following a 15-month review.

Gareth Davies, head of the National Audit Office, said that establishing a robust cost and schedule estimate, completing commercial negotiations, and securing capabilities are necessary before the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd can finalize the reset. The NAO recommended that the Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd review the realism of the new timetable in the autumn and revise it if necessary.

Initially, HS2 services were scheduled to commence in the current year. The original estimate for constructing HS2 from London to Birmingham, including extensions to Leeds and Manchester, was £32.7 billion at 2011 prices. The latest cost estimate is approximately double the figure estimated in 2020. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled the Manchester leg of HS2 in October 2023.

A Department for Transport spokesperson stated that the government has taken action to reset HS2 to ensure the safe delivery of the line between Birmingham and London at the lowest reasonable cost. The spokesperson added that six major construction milestones were achieved ahead of schedule last year. An HS2 Ltd spokesperson also commented that resetting HS2 was essential to regain control of the project and stop the cycle of poor delivery, delays, and cost increases. The spokesperson added that the reset task requires external industry expertise and has been carried out alongside increased productivity across the 140-mile construction program.